Freewheeling
Henry Northmore is blown away by the latest instalment in the groundbreaking GTA series as Liberty City Stories is released on Sony’s new handheld. ven if you've owned one since release day it‘s still hard not to grin like a child every time you pick up the PSP handheld. But even though it‘s a technical wonder and a feat of sleek design. there haven‘t really been many killer games that make it essential.
Now Rockstar is throwing its hat into the ring with the latest instalment of
its most (in)famous creation. Grand Theft Auto: 111er City Stories. And this isn't a cross-platform port: this is a whole new game. If you know the (I'll't series even in the slightest it‘s all achingly familiar. the controls slipping into place like a second skin. And for the uninitiated this is a perfect primer to the world of car theft and gang warfare.
You play Toni (‘ipriani just returning to Liberty (‘ity (as last seen in (i'llrt Ill. though this is set several years before the events of the aforementioned P82 title) and hooking up with the Leone crime family. Once again it’s a mission-based affair as you follow orders helping otrt dealers. taking otit the opposition or even helping corrupt politicians. Admittedly. some missions are rock hard and certain jobs slow down the pace of the story. Frustration is not good gameplay. and especially with the snub-nose analogue stick the PSP offers pin-point accurate driving and shooting can be infuriating.
This is easily offset by the scale of the game. It is huge. The freewheeling open environments are back. and although it‘s not as gigantic as San Andreas. this easily compares to PSone releases and even early P82 titles. There are a few moments of slow down. ghosting and load times. btrt when it‘s in the palm of your hands you won't care. The radio stations are in place. and the introduction of a classical channel is perfect. leading to sublime moments as Mozart accompanies your latest criminal escapade. There's also a new multi-player mode that adds to the longevity with up to six Wi-i‘i connected players wreaking havoc on the streets of Liberty City.
That a game of this quality is coming otrt so early in the PSP‘s evolution is a breakthrough. A game of this type has never existed in a handheld format. pushing the machine to its limits: this is the exclusive content needed to drive the PSP forward. We can only look on and wonder at what is on the horizon for this fledgling piece of hardware.
Rockstar is the only developer whose ever release is an ‘event‘. In recent years it has become the benchmark in tough. gritty. adult gaming. With Liberty City Stories it once again proves its one of the best in the business.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (Rockstar) 00000
PLAY
Revrews PS2 XBOX GC PC ULTIMATE
SPIDER-MAN (Activision) 0000
Those spider senses wrll be working overtime as Activrsron returns wrth its most successful comic adaptation to date. Comics and vrdeogarnes seem like such natural partners and here the synergy is alive and well. Ultimate Sf)ldO/‘- Man team Brian Michael Bendrs and Mark Bagley provide the story and art. capturing the very essence of the comics. Sprdey is a pleasure to control — fast and nimble wrth a nice. varied set of webslrngrng moves. The boss fights are well handled wrth various subsections giving a real cornrc book feel. and the 3D rendering of the characters is a Joy to interact with. The free roaming city rs a touch repetitive graphically but is an ideal playground for one of vrt‘ieogames' most versatile heroes. wrth lots of attention spent on realistic web physrcs. That's not all: you also play as Venom. OK. he's not as much fun as Spidey but the addition of another playable character adds variety. If you're a cornrc fanbOy your wet dreams have come true. and it's a great little actioner for
anyone With a love of quality gaming. (Henry Northmorel
PC FEAR (Vivendi) 000.
What makes us scared? Often it is context rather than physrcalrty that affects us most. Take the laughter of children. In a playground? Charming. In a nursery? Delightful. While looking at the evrscerated body of a fat man. his limbs bent at strange angles and what is left of his face staring straight at you? Utterly terrifying. This is a concept understood and thoroughly utilised by the producers of FEAR. OK. it's an FPS that has its fair share of ducking and shooting. as good
as most. worse than a few. And the POV style is hardly a good medium for presenting shocks. reducing any plotted. scripted. Cinematic moments to a gamble that you are looking in the correct direction. But It s so beautifully sculpted and polished. ‘."-.’|Iil an engaging story and some pleasantly unropey voice acting that it becomes more than a gory shooter. Even the use of the ubiquitous str'aggly~ haired girl is forgiven by the finale. If only all
games were thzs carefully considered and meticulously crafted. Now there's a scary thought if ever there was one, :larn Davidson. l’SLI XH< >><
THE WARRIORS (Rockstar) 00..
Hey there. be >')ers. Are
you ready to rumble? Only Rocksta: would take a cult VINE}
8 movie and create one
of the most sat'siyrng i)l'£t‘.'.’|(}l8 around It.
A game of this type lives and. literally. filil‘fs on the duality of is figi‘its a"d full-scale gang ‘.'.’{il:§. Punches connect .'.'Ith
a satisfyng; crunch sit.“ sonze nice soc-era: ntoxes aid nasty dirty tricks that certainly earn its iii. rating. llre theft. mugging and graffiti nrurr-ganres are intelligently acne. l)ft’)‘.'l(ii"rt} n so changes in pace. But strangely fora heat '-:>"-‘ up traditionally tne :“ost >asit: of game ‘orvnats the storylrr‘r- rs really
v. rat ‘-.'.4';ii bane ou hooked. l~1ei<~ Rockstar almost perfectly captures the feel and atmosphere of the .i'i’Ls. lire graphics might not l)(> tiité l)t>:;f :)tit ert3“<2 but it's the peripherais. the music. acfroi‘ ai‘.i the exemplar. .’()l(7(? overs til’()ll‘ lllitll‘, of the original cash that jus littlili.(:£l:".1,.)tliirtili? lllenry North'noiei
FOOD
The ‘photo of your fridge proiect' contains a baffling array of the interiors of random punters' refrigerators. Salrvate at some of the tasty morsels inside. laugh at the sparseness of others and marvel at the sheer quantity of booze some folk stock theirs wrth. http://home.casema.nl/ project1972/
WORK
Ever get bored trapped behind your desk for hours on end. day after (ran 1‘ \.".‘e;?. surely not as bored as this chair, Vino crafts intricate mechanisms. gadgets and toys out of office stattoneiy fron‘ a rather lethal looking boy; and ariot'.’ to walking devrces and various engines. www.deeperbeige.com/site/silly/bor edatwork/creations1.php
1/. N; i‘.
‘liec THE LIST 103